22 Container Gardens in Bloom

Richard Felber

As these photos show, a garden can call for nothing more than a pot and a lush plant.

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1 of 23

To grow vegetables in containers, look for varieties with words like bush, baby, dwarf, tiny, midget, and patio in their names. They are bred to be compact.

Ngoc Minh Ngo

2 of 23

Before heading to the nursery, study the area you’ve picked for your container garden―is it sunny? shady?―and then find plants that will flourish in those conditions.

Richard Felber

3 of 23

Terra-cotta pots are ideal for container plants because their porous walls let air and water move easily through, so roots grow healthily.

Ngoc Minh Ngo

4 of 23

An assortment of herbs can be planted in one pot, so long as their care requirements are compatible.

Ngoc Minh Ngo

5 of 23

Potted plants flanking an entry door are warm and welcoming.

Aimee Herring

6 of 23

Place a large pot in the center of a display, accented with smaller pots for balance.

Richard Felber

7 of 23

Create a “centerpiece” for your porch by grouping varieties of the same species planted in similar pots.

Richard Felber

8 of 23

Matching pots planted with ornamental grass lend drama to a driveway or path.

Richard Felber

9 of 23

Use potted plants to define an outdoor space: Here, they separate patio from lawn.

Richard Felber

10 of 23

Ceramic pots are porous, allowing roots to breathe, and a glazed finish helps conserve moisture.

Mark Lund

11 of 23

Mounted plants cheer up a bare wall. Hang an even number for a formal look, an odd number for a more relaxed feel.

Richard Felber

12 of 23

For an especially easy hanging garden, try mini petunias: They never need deadheading, and they thrive in sun or a mix of sun and shade.

Richard Felber

13 of 23

An old birdbath makes a perfect new home for shallow-rooted succulents.

Beatriz Da Costa

14 of 23

Create an oasis in your yard by arranging potted plants into a sheltering screen.

Minh & Wass

15 of 23

When potting ivy, make sure the containers have enough depth to allow for proper drainage.

Mark Lund

16 of 23

During the winter, you can force bulbs to bloom indoors (like the Christmas Pearl grape hyacinths shown here), then replant outside come spring.

Ellen Silverman

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Pungently fragrant paperwhite narcissus are easy to coax into bloom indoors. Use tall containers with no drainage holes.

Ellen Silverman

18 of 23

A terrarium―which lets greens live in a self-sufficient environment―is a no-fuss way to garden.

Lisa Hubbard

19 of 23

A humidity-loving tropical houseplant, such as a maidenhair fern or a flame violet, will thrive in a bell-jar terrarium.

Lisa Hubbard

20 of 23

Planted in a ceramic pitcher (drilled to add drainage holes), purple shamrock makes the tiniest indoor container garden.

Ellen Silverman

21 of 23

A tangle of roots exposed in a glass cylinder can be just as eye-catching as the leaves above.

Wendell T. Webber

22 of 23

Always empty saucers after you water plants: Letting pots sit in water can damage roots.

Ngoc Minh Ngo

Replay gallery

22 Container Gardens That Will Make You Want to Start Gardening

1 of 23

To grow vegetables in containers, look for varieties with words like bush, baby, dwarf, tiny, midget, and patio in their names. They are bred to be compact.

2 of 23

Before heading to the nursery, study the area you’ve picked for your container garden―is it sunny? shady?―and then find plants that will flourish in those conditions.

3 of 23

Terra-cotta pots are ideal for container plants because their porous walls let air and water move easily through, so roots grow healthily.

4 of 23

An assortment of herbs can be planted in one pot, so long as their care requirements are compatible.

5 of 23

Potted plants flanking an entry door are warm and welcoming.

6 of 23

Place a large pot in the center of a display, accented with smaller pots for balance.

7 of 23

Create a “centerpiece” for your porch by grouping varieties of the same species planted in similar pots.

8 of 23

Matching pots planted with ornamental grass lend drama to a driveway or path.

9 of 23

Use potted plants to define an outdoor space: Here, they separate patio from lawn.

10 of 23

Ceramic pots are porous, allowing roots to breathe, and a glazed finish helps conserve moisture.

11 of 23

Mounted plants cheer up a bare wall. Hang an even number for a formal look, an odd number for a more relaxed feel.

12 of 23

For an especially easy hanging garden, try mini petunias: They never need deadheading, and they thrive in sun or a mix of sun and shade.

13 of 23

An old birdbath makes a perfect new home for shallow-rooted succulents.

14 of 23

Create an oasis in your yard by arranging potted plants into a sheltering screen.

15 of 23

When potting ivy, make sure the containers have enough depth to allow for proper drainage.

16 of 23

During the winter, you can force bulbs to bloom indoors (like the Christmas Pearl grape hyacinths shown here), then replant outside come spring.

17 of 23

Pungently fragrant paperwhite narcissus are easy to coax into bloom indoors. Use tall containers with no drainage holes.

18 of 23

A terrarium―which lets greens live in a self-sufficient environment―is a no-fuss way to garden.

19 of 23

A humidity-loving tropical houseplant, such as a maidenhair fern or a flame violet, will thrive in a bell-jar terrarium.

20 of 23

Planted in a ceramic pitcher (drilled to add drainage holes), purple shamrock makes the tiniest indoor container garden.

21 of 23

A tangle of roots exposed in a glass cylinder can be just as eye-catching as the leaves above.

22 of 23

Always empty saucers after you water plants: Letting pots sit in water can damage roots.

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